Post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly

ABSTRACT

A post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strap for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a person&#39;&#39;s body. A retaining ring couples the pouch about the drainage opening. A connector couples the retaining ring with the pouch to a strap about a person&#39;&#39;s body and includes two springs extending in opposite directions from the peripheral edge of the ring for spring loading the ring in a direction axial of the ring against the person&#39;&#39;s body. The two springs have belt connectors at their extremities.

United States Patent [191 Blanchard Dec. 24, 1974 POST-SURGICAL DRAINAGE POUCH RETAINING ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Burton L. Blanchard, 2216 Chevy Oaks Cir., Glendale, Calif. 91206 [22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 341,388

[52] U.S. Cl. 128/283, 128/350 [51] Int. Cl. A6lf 5/44 [58] Field of Search 128/283, 350

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,l00,488 8/1963 Orowan 128/283 3,367,338 2/1968 Crandall 128/283 X Primary ExaminerLucie H. Laudenslager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & l-lale 5 7 ABSTRACT A post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strap for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a persons body. A retaining ring couples the pouch about the drainage opening. A connector couples the retaining ring with the pouch to a strap about a persons body and includes two springs extending in opposite directions from the peripheral edge of the ring for spring loading the ring in a direction axial of the ring against the persons body. The two springs have belt connectors at their extremities.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures POST-SURGICAL DRAINAGE POUCH RETAINING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assemblies usable with a strap.

Post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assemblies are provided for use with a strap or the like for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a persons body. One such device is generally ringshaped and has short clips extending out on opposite sides thereof for attachment to a belt or the like. The ring-shaped assembly has a dish-shaped recess in which an annular disk is positioned. The disk forms a sealing ring in between the ring assembly and the persons body. Additionally, the ring assembly has a peripheral ring-shaped groove into which an O-ring or the like is positionable for attaching a drainage pouch to the ringshaped assembly.

Such a post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly and other similar devices suffer from a number of disadvantages. First, there is no way of adjusting the pressure between the ring-shaped assembly and the wearers body as dictated by body contours and changes in weight and shape of the wearer's body. Second, such assemblies do not allow for changes in position of the wearers body as he moves about under normal conditions. As a result, such devices are uncomfortable and are difficult to adjust.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION Briefly. an embodiment of the present invention is in a post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strap for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of the persons body. Included is a retaining ring for coupling the pouch about the drainage opening and comprises a body facing side about the axis of the retaining ring for receiving a bodyto-ring sealingring. A connector couples the retaining ring with the pouch to the strap about a persons body and includes first and second springs mounted in the ring and extending in opposite directions away from the axis of the retaining ring to two spring extremities. Each spring has a portion located at its extremity for coupling to the strap. Extensions of the spring are resilient for spring loading the retaining ring in an axial direction toward the persons body and against the strap.

Such an arrangement overcomes a number of the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior art devices in.

that the action of the spring allows for certain limited changes in shape and contour of the persons body while maintaining the ring and attached drainagepouch rigidly against the wearers body aligned with the drainage opening.

Preferably, the springs comprise a material which is malleable, in a direction parallel to the axis of the ring, with predetermined forces above those normally exerted by the wearer on the spring. Such an arrangement allows the spring to be readjusted from time to time as shape and contour of the persons body changes. In other words, the springs can be bent to a new position and thereby provide the proper spring load pressure for the ring against the persons body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two springs form a loop and the ring has passages therein which permit the ring to move relative to the spring loop in a direction toward and away from the opposite extremities of the two springs. This allows continued alignment of the ring with the drainage opening during normal body movements. This provides a retaining assembly which allows the user to move about comfortably under normal conditions.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the passages include first and second substantially parallel passages extending through the ring on opposite sides of the center of the ring. The springs comprise first and second spring parts extending respectively through the first and second passages and the spring parts are interconnected at their opposite ends. With such an arrangement, a very low cost and simple system is provided that has the aforementioned features.

Preferably, the ring has a body abutment side about the axis of the ring which comprises a ring-shaped recess into which a body-to-ring sealing ring is positionable. The ring-shaped recess provides a shoulder for retaining the sealing ring in fixed orientation with respect to the ring, thereby allowing the sealing ring to hold the ring aligned with the drainage opening.

According to a preferred embodiment, the ring has a ring-shaped peripheral groove for attachment of the pouch to the ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the post-surgical pouch retaining assembly of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a postsurgical drainage pouch retaining assembly 10 usable with a strap. A strap is indicated generally by dash lines 12 for holding the assembly 10 about an abdominal drainage opening 16 on the side of a persons body 14.

The retaining assembly 10 includes a retaining ring 18 for coupling the drainage pouch 13 about the drainage opening 16.

A connector 19 couples the retaining ring 18 with the pouch to the strap 12 about a persons body. The connector 19 includes at least one spring 20 that extends in opposite directions from the periphery at edge 18b of the ring 18 for spring loading the spring 20 in a direction that is axial of the ring 18. The axis of the ring 18 is depicted at A in FIG. 2. By spring loading the ring 18 in a direction that is axial of the ring 18, the spring loads the ring against the persons body. To aid in this spring loading the spring 20, when unloaded, diverges away from a plane normal to the axis A, and away from 3 the persons body as depicted by the dashed lines 20' of FIG. 3. i

The spring 20 has belt connectors 22 at opposite extremities thereof. The connectors are rectangular loops through which the belt 12 may be extended. The belt 12 may be stitched, tied, buckled or fastened by other well known techniques to the connectors 22.

Included in the connector 19 are also a pair of parallel passages 24 which extend through the ring 18 on opposite sides of the axis A and the opening through the ring 18. The spring parts 20a and 20b of the spring 20 extend through the passages 24. The passages 24 form a means for coupling the spring 20 to the ring 18.

Preferably, the spring 20 is formed of a circular stainless steel wire. However, the spring 20 may be formed of other shapes and other material such as beryllium copper or semi-rigid plastic, or a more flexible material, such as soft nylon or rubber. Also the spring may be a part of the ring. However, preferably the spring 20 is formed of a malleable material such as stainless steel which is malleable when forces are applied above that normally exerted by body action so that the spring can be easily adjusted to different operating positions by the hand of the user. By this means, an optimum positioning is facilitated for the ring relative to the users body.

Preferably, the passages 24 forming the coupling meansfor the spring 20 are slightly larger than the outside diameter of the spring 20 to permit the ring 18 to slide on spring 20 in between the two extremities of the spring 20. Such an arrangement permits the ring 18 to move with respect to the spring 20 and hence the belt 12 and thereby maintain alignment with the opening 16 of the wearers body 14 during normal body movements. It will also be apparent that the passages 24, together with the spring 20, provide a very simple and low cost sliding or movable mounting and connector for the assembly 10.

Although the passages 24 have been disclosed for coupling the retaining ring to the belt, it should be understood that within the broader concepts of the present invention, other means may be provided for slidably or otherwise coupling the spring 20 to the ring 18. It will also be noted that the loops 22 interconnect the ends of the parts 200 and 20b. However, within the a broader concepts of the present invention, the spring 20 may take on other shapes and configurations to be discussed in more detail in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5.

Preferably, the ring 18 has a body abutment side 18a. In the body abutment side of the ring 18, there is a ringshaped recess 26 into which a body-to-ring sealing ring or wafer 28 is positioned. The recess 26 is ring-shaped, providing a shoulder 26a for retaining the sealing wafer in fixed orientation with respect to the ring, thereby allowing the sealing wafer 28 to hold the ring 18 aligned about the drainage opening 16. By this means, the wafer 28 holds the ring 18, preventing it from obstructing the opening 16 or damaging the lining of the opening. The body contacting side 18a of the ring 18 is shown convex, however, alternately it may be flat, concave, or of different convexity. Preferably, the ring 18 has a peripheral groove 30 around the peripheral edge thereof into which a ring or other retaining member 32 may be positioned for securely holding the pouch 13 about the opening of the ring 18. Preferably, the ring 18 is formed of a plastic or other semi-rigid material.

The sealing wafer 28 preferably is made of a karaya compound. However, within the broader concepts of the invention, the sealing wafer 28 can be made of other materials such as adhesive or rubber or plastic to which adhesive material has been applied.

Refer now to the alternate embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The most significant differences between the alternate embodiment and that shown in the other figures are as follows: the ring 50 is slightly different in shape in that the diameter at 62 on one side of peripheral groove 56 is closer to the diameter at 64 at the other side (compare FIGS. 4 and 2); the spring 52 is bent inwardly very close to each end of passages 58; the passages 58 are moved outwardly away from the axis of the ring closer to the rings outer periphery; and the shape of spring 52 more closely follows the outer diameter or periphery of the ring at 62.

Several features come about by these changes. First, because the spring 52 bends close to the ends of passages 58, the spring is restricted so it does not slide in passages 58. However, spring 52 does have the same axial spring action discussed regarding FIGS. l3. Also since the spring 52 more closely conforms to the outer periphery at 62, it is less likely to extend 'out to the point where the belt connecting ends 54 dig into the body of the user.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appearing hereinafter.

For example, the spring may continue its generally circular shape rather than being bent outwardly as at 54, or into other shapes than circular. Additionally, the belt may be connected either to the wire 52 directly as indicated above, or by some other means, such as employment of an intermediate connecting part or parts.

What isclaimed is:

1. A' post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strapfor holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a persons body, comprising:

a retaining ring for coupling such pouch about such drainage opening and comprising a body facing side about the axis of the retaining ring which comprises a ring-shaped recess into which a body-toring sealing ring is positionable, said ring-shaped recess providing a shoulder for retaining such sealing ring in fixed orientation with respect to said retaining ring, thereby allowing the sealing ring to i hold the retaining ring aligned with'the drainage opening;

a connector for coupling said retaining ring with such pouch to such strap about a person s body comprismg a. first and second substantially parallel passages extending through said retaining ring on opposite sides of and perpendicular to the axis of said re taining ring,

b. first and second spring parts extending respectively, through said first and second passages and interconnected at opposite ends, the spring parts extending in opposite directions away from the axis of said retaining ring and beyond the peripheral edge of said retaining ring to two extremities, and i c. said spring parts having a portion located at each extremity for coupling to such strap, the extensions of said spring parts being resilient for spring loading said retaining ring in an axial direction against such person's body and against such strap, said passages being constructed to permit said retaining ring to move relative to said spring parts in opposite directions toward and away from the opposite extremities of said spring parts to allow continued alignment of said retaining ring with such drainage opening with body movement.

2. A post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strap for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a persons body, comprising:

a retaining ring for coupling such pouch about such drainage opening and comprising a body facing side about the axis of the retaining ring for receiving a body-to-ring sealing ring;

a connector for coupling said retaining ring with such pouch to such strap about a persons body comprismg:

a. first and second passages extending through said retaining ring on opposite sides of and in adirection substantially perpendicular to the axis of said retaining ring,

b. a loop-shaped spring extending through said first and second passages and having extensions in opposite directions away from the axis of said retaining ring to positions beyond the peripheral edge of said retaining ring at two spring extremities,

c. said spring having a portion located at each spring extremity for coupling to such strap; and

d. the extensions of said spring being resilient for spring loading said retaining ring in an axial direction toward such persons body and against such strap.

3. A retaining assembly according to claim 2 wherein the spring when not loaded by such strap diverges away from a plane normal to the retaining ring axis as the spring extends in such opposite directions.

4. A retaining assembly according to claim 2 wherein the extensions of said spring comprises a material which is malleable in a direction parallel to the axis of said retaining ring at a predetermined force.

5. A retaining assembly according to claim 4 wherein said spring is comprised of a malleable wire.

6. A retaining assembly according to claim 3 wherein said first and second passages are substantially parallel and are larger in cross-section than said spring loop to permit the retaining ring to move relative to the spring in opposite directions toward and away from the opposite extremities of the spring to allow continued alignment of said retaining ring with such drainage opening with body movement.

7. A retaining assembly according to claim 2 wherein said ring comprises a body facing side about the axis thereof which comprises a ring-shaped recess into which a body-to-ring sealing ring is positionable, said ring-shaped recess providing a shoulder for retaining such sealing ring in fixed orientation with respect to said retaining ring, thereby allowing the sealing ring to hold the retaining ring aligned with the drainage openmg.

8. A retaining assembly according to claim 2 wherein said retaining ring comprises a ring-shaped peripheral groove for attachment of such pouch to said retaining ring.

9. A post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strap for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a persons body, comprising:

a retaining ring for coupling such pouch about such drainage opening and comprising a body facing side about the axis of the retaining ring for receiving a body-to-ring sealing ring; a connector for coupling said retaining ring with such pouch to such strap about a person s body comprismg a. first and second springs mounted in said ring and extending in opposite directions away from the axis of said retaining ring to two spring extremities,

b. each said spring having a portion located at its extremity for coupling to such strap; and

c. the extensions of each said spring being resilient for spring loading said retaining ring in an axial direction toward such persons body and against such strap.

10. A retaining assembly according to claim 9 wherein said ring comprises a body facing side about the axis thereof which comprises a ring-shaped recess into which a body-to-ring sealing ring is positionable, said ring-shaped recess providing a shoulder for retaining such sealing ring in fixed orientation with respect to said retaining ring, thereby allowing the sealing ring to hold the retaining ring aligned with the drainage openmg.

11. The retaining assembly of claim 9 wherein each spring extends in a loop out of and back into said retaining ring.

12. A retaining assembly according to claim 11 wherein said spring is comprised of a malleable wire. 

1. A post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strap for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a person''s body, comprising: a retaining ring for coupling such pouch about such drainage opening and comprising a body facing side about the axis of the retaining ring which comprises a ring-shaped recess into which a body-to-ring sealing ring is positionable, said ring-shaped recess providing a shoulder for retaining such sealing ring in fixed orientation with respect to said retaining ring, thereby allowing the sealing ring to hold the retaining ring aligned with the drainage opening; a connector for coupling said retaining ring with such pouch to such strap about a person''s body comprising a. first and second substantially parallel passages extending through said retaining ring on opposite sides of and perpendicular to the axis of said retaining ring, b. first and second spring parts extending respectively, through said first and second passages and interconnected at opposite ends, the spring parts extending in opposite directions away from the axis of said retaining ring and beyond the peripheral edge of said retaining ring to two extremities, and c. said spring parts having a portion located at each extremity for coupling to such strap, the extensions of said spring parts being resilient for spring loading said retaining ring in an axial direction against such person''s body and against such strap, said passages being constructed to permit said retaining ring to move relative to said spring parts in opposite directions toward and away from the opposite extremities of said spring parts to allow continued alignment of said retaining ring with such drainage opening with body movement.
 1. A post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strap for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a person''s body, comprising: a retaining ring for coupling such pouch about such drainage opening and comprising a body facing side about the axis of the retaining ring which comprises a ring-shaped recess into which a body-to-ring sealing ring is positionable, said ring-shaped recess providing a shoulder for retaining such sealing ring in fixed orientation with respect to said retaining ring, thereby allowing the sealing ring to hold the retaining ring aligned with the drainage opening; a connector for coupling said retaining ring with such pouch to such strap about a person''s body comprising a. first and second substantially parallel passages extending through said retaining ring on opposite sides of and perpendicular to the axis of said retaining ring, b. first and second spring parts extending respectively, through said first and second passages and interconnected at opposite ends, the spring parts extending in opposite directions away from the axis of said retaining ring and beyond the peripheral edge of said retaining ring to two extremities, and c. said spring parts having a portion located at each extremity for coupling to such strap, the extensions of said spring parts being resilient for spring loading said retaining ring in an axial direction against such person''s body and against such strap, said passages being constructed to permit said retaining ring to move relative to said spring parts in opposite directions toward and away from the opposite extremities of said spring parts to allow continued alignment of said retaining ring with such drainage opening with body movement.
 2. A post-surgical drainage pouch retaining assembly usable with a strap for holding a drainage pouch about an abdominal drainage opening of a person''s body, comprising: a retaining ring for coupling such pouch about such drainage opening and comprising a body facing side about the axis of the retaining ring for receiving a body-to-ring sealing ring; a connector for coupling said retaining ring with such pouch to such strap about a person''s body comprising: a. first and second passages extending through said retaining ring on opposite sides of and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said retaining ring, b. a loop-shaped spring extending through said first and second passages and having extensions in opposite directions away from the axis of said retaining ring to positions beyond the peripheral edge of said retaining ring at two spring extremities, c. said spring having a portion located at each spring extremity for coupling to such strap; and d. the extensions of said spring being resilient for spring loading said retaining ring in an axial direction toward such person''s body and against such strap.
 3. A retaining assembly according to claim 2 wherein the spring when not loaded by such strap diverges away from a plane normal to the retaining ring axis as the spring extends in such opposite directions.
 4. A retaining assemBly according to claim 2 wherein the extensions of said spring comprises a material which is malleable in a direction parallel to the axis of said retaining ring at a predetermined force.
 5. A retaining assembly according to claim 4 wherein said spring is comprised of a malleable wire.
 6. A retaining assembly according to claim 3 wherein said first and second passages are substantially parallel and are larger in cross-section than said spring loop to permit the retaining ring to move relative to the spring in opposite directions toward and away from the opposite extremities of the spring to allow continued alignment of said retaining ring with such drainage opening with body movement.
 7. A retaining assembly according to claim 2 wherein said ring comprises a body facing side about the axis thereof which comprises a ring-shaped recess into which a body-to-ring sealing ring is positionable, said ring-shaped recess providing a shoulder for retaining such sealing ring in fixed orientation with respect to said retaining ring, thereby allowing the sealing ring to hold the retaining ring aligned with the drainage opening.
 8. A retaining assembly according to claim 2 wherein said retaining ring comprises a ring-shaped peripheral groove for attachment of such pouch to said retaining ring.
 10. A retaining assembly according to claim 9 wherein said ring comprises a body facing side about the axis thereof which comprises a ring-shaped recess into which a body-to-ring sealing ring is positionable, said ring-shaped recess providing a shoulder for retaining such sealing ring in fixed orientation with respect to said retaining ring, thereby allowing the sealing ring to hold the retaining ring aligned with the drainage opening.
 11. The retaining assembly of claim 9 wherein each spring extends in a loop out of and back into said retaining ring.
 12. A retaining assembly according to claim 11 wherein said spring is comprised of a malleable wire. 